One of the best things about the weather getting warmer is all the great outdoor festivals that take place during the spring and summer months. These include film festivals, art markets, and (my personal favorite) music festivals. Music and fashion are natural cohorts so the latter, especially, tends to draw a pretty stylish crowd. The key to dressing for a festival is to be easy, breezy, comfy. Remember: it’s important to be cute, but not if it makes you uncomfortable. The following styles make room for style and let you get down and funky at the fest.
CUT-OFFS
Coachella music festival is always a big celeb favorite. This year they came out in droves wearing a big Spring/Summer 2010 trend: denim cutoffs. Beyonce, Kristin Cavallari, and Lindsay Lohan opt for the itty bitty version of this style.
If your thighs aren’t up to the style challenge (hey, not all of us can have a personal chef and a trainer!), there are plenty of more modest options. They come in lengths from peddle pusher to super short shorts. Of course, you can always make your own! It’s a great way to re-use an old pair of jeans that you’re maybe not so into anymore. Gap.com – $49.50; Siwy via madisonlosangeles.com – $152; Blank via cusp.com – $68.
HEADBANDS
Wearing a headband across your forehead is a big trend at the moment and it’s perfect for festivals. It conveys a sort hippy dippy, yet style-concious look a la Mischa Barton (below, left). This style evokes the woodstock era and plays into a bohemian girl’s look. These come is simple braided strings, to decorated leather, to blinged out bedazzled. Next to Mischa: asos.com – $14; Juicy Couture via shopbop.com – $65.
FLAT SHOES
Your shoes are potentially the most important choice you’ll make in your festival look. If you’re really taking advantage of the fun, you’ll be doing plenty of walking, dancing, moshing… etc. At the very least you’ll be doing plenty of standing, so make sure you can concentrate on the fest and not on the pain in your feet. Flip flops are a summer classic and are about as close as you can get to being barefoot. In fact, if the vibe is there and the grass (or mud) is nice enough, you can kick them off easily and feel like a kid again! Tory Burch blue flip flops via jildorshoes.com – $45; Gold faux leather flip flops via wetseal.com – $9; Fiel flip flops w/ flower via endless.com – $175.
Sneakers like Vans or Converse Chuck Taylors are great for doing a lot of walking, but they still have lots of style options. Woven leather chucks via converse.com – $175; Neon blocked Vans via tillys.com – $42.
Ballet flats are great for girls that want casual, but just don’t do sneakers for any occasion (you know who you are). Grey canvas flats via topshop.com – $30; Leopard print flats by Tahari via zappos.con – $198; Black leather ballet flat via gap.com – $40.
HAVE FUN!!!
photos: telegraph.co.uk, zimbio.com, becomegorgeous.com